Nail machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

G. E. HOUGHTON.

NAIL MACHINE.

No 462,968. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

Wmwsww @21 Q5 12E? OZ? 2712202710 L 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. E. HOUGI-ITON. NAIL MACHINE.

3 W M m INN v M \S m E MW M (No Model.)

No. 462,968. I

w yam \wm .w a?

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. E. HOUGHTON.

NAIL MACHINE.

No. 462,968. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES I [WI 7W] Z i I Q a 4 H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HOUGHTON, OF NORTHUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HORACE RUFUS JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

NAlL-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,968, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed January 24, 1891. Serial No. 378,958. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern: die and the point-cutting die. Fig. is an Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HOUGHTON, end view of the bedgripping die and the a citizen of theUnited States of America, repoint-cutting die, the dies being inverted. siding at Northumberland, in the county of Fig. 6 is a detail of the holding-clamp for the 55 5 Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, bed-point-cutting die. Fig. 7 is a bottom have invented a new and useful Nail-Maplan View of the moving gripping-die, showchine, of which the followingis aspecification. ing the seat for the sliding nipper. Fig. 8 is My invention relates to improvements in a bottom plan view of the bed-gripping die, machinesforcuttingnailsfromanail-plate; showing the seat for the clearer or ejector. 6o and the object is to provide new and improved Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line w w of means for forming or cutting points on a nail- Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line blank cut from a common rolled plate fed to y y of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective the knives of a nail-machine. of the sliding nipper. Fig. 12 is a detail of My invention is applicable to a common the nail ejector or clearer. Fig. 13 is a per- 65 I 5 high-post nail-machine generally in use for spective of the mechanism for reciprocating cutting plate-nails throughout the country. and raising or lifting the sliding nipper. Fig. The greatest difficulty in pointing nails cut 14 is a side elevation of the gripping-dies in from a plate by point-cutting dies arranged contact. Fig. 15 represents views of the nipto co-operate with gripping means arises from per push bar spring and liftingpost. Fig. 70 the fact that when the end of the nail-blank 16 shows the end or cutting-face of one of the is out, pressed, or crushed to a point between point-cutting dies. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the point-cutting dies the superfluous metal a nail-machine, partly in section,showing the must be discharged by actual force between connection between the puslrrod, the nipperthe edges of the dies, thus subjecting them bar, and the nipper. 7 5 to great strain and preventing the use of dies A designates the moving gripping-die, conof sufficient hardness to stand the work as sisting ofasubstantial piece of suitable metal long as they should. It is with the object of having its gripping-face formed in vertical removing this difficulty and of avoiding incontour of two parallel planes having a shoulconvenience of frequent grinding and repair der 1 between them, as shown in the draw- 3o ing the dies that my present invention is ings, the upper portionof the end face being made. I accomplish these objects by the beveled or chamfered back to make room for mechanism illustrated in the accompanying the moving knife and gage at their downward drawings and hereinafter described, which limit of movement. In the bottom of this die consists, generally, of point-cutting dies so A is a groove 2, opening at the face end of 5 constructed and arranged that they will cut the die and terminating shortof the rear end the point on the blank with a shearing-moveof the die, the metal at the rear forming an ment, as hereinafter fully specified. abutment for the end of the sliding nipper,

Associated with and forming a part of my which is arranged in the groove, as hereinpresent invention are certain other mechanafter specified. In the inner side edge of this 0 4o isms which .I have illustrated and described die is formed a groove 3, constituting a seat and laid claim to. for the point-cutting die, as shown in the In the drawings, Figure l is a View of the drawings. moving gripping-die with the point-cutting B designates the bed-gripping die, the face die arranged therein, the latter being shown end or gripping surface or part of which is 5 5 in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view of the bedformed to meet the planes of the face end of gripping die with the point-cutting die ar- .the moving die, the shoulderebeing arranged ranged therein and shown in dotted lines. at a higher plane than the shoulder 1 of the Fig. 3 is a detail view of the point-cutting dies moving die, so that a gripping seat or space removed from their seats in the gripping-dies is formed between the dies when in contact. 50 and shown with their face ends engaging. In the central bottom face of this die 3 is Fig.4 is an end view of the moving grippingformed a seat or groove 5, opening at the face end of the die and terminating short of the rear end thereof, substantially as shown, this groove being the seat for the nail ejector or clearer. In the side of this die is formed a seat 6 for the point-cutting die hereinafter described. The general construction of the face ends of these respective gripping-dies, with the lips or shoulders arranged at different planes of elevation to form a gripping- Space on the nail-blank, is shown and described in my earlier application now pending in the Patent Office, filed September 16, 1890, Serial No. 365,123, and no claim is made in this specification for this construction, except as it may be in combination with my present invention.

0 and D designate the point-cutting dies, which, so far as their point-cutting faces are concerned, are counterparts.

O is the point-cutting die associated or used in connection with the moving gripping-die. It consists of a steel bar adapted to fit in the groove or seat in the side of the die, being slightly narrower than the width of the seat, so as to have a limited lateral swing or movement in the seat. The rear end of this die is preferably curved or slightly rounded, as at 7, and in the side is formed a notch 8. The curved end rests or abuts against an abutting block 9,formed With a side end lug 10, which sets in the notch in the die, and the forward position of the point-cutting die is regulated by a set-screw 11, let in from the rear end of the gripping-die, substantially as shown.

D is the point-cutting die in the gripping bed-die, which, as stated, in the formation of the cutting-face is the counterpart of the opposing die and is also arranged in its seat in the gripping-die to have a corresponding limited lateral movement with the other pointcutting die. This die D extends outwardly through a hole 12 in the bed of the machine and has its rear part clamped in a clamp 13, having a lug 14 engaging a corresponding depression 15 in the die to prevent back movement of the die in its seat.

To hold and adjust the clamp to the desired position an adjusting device 16 is fixed at the front of the machine to bear against the clamp. To return the dies to their normal positions after engagement springs 17 18 are seated in the walls of the die-beds to bear against them. As stated heretofore, these point-cutting dies operate with a shearing movement on the point of the blank, and this is effected with certainty by means of a toggle-joint connection when the dies are in contact. On one of the point-cutting dies is formed a ridge 19 across its face and in the other a depression or seat 20 to take the ridge, the engagement of these forming a detachable or temporary joint when the dies are engaged, which not only holds the dies in accurate relative position, but provides abearing to carry them with accuracy in their operation of cutting the point.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the face ends of the point-cutting dies are substantial duplicates, the variation or difference being the depression or ridge constituting the joint between them. The end face consists of the point-cutting part 21, from the end of which leads a central edge 22, and then the abutting and joint portion. The central edge 22 serves the useful purpose of splitting and spreading the extending ends of any blanks varying in length or extending beyond the end of the point-cutter and removes the strain from the cutting-surface proper by giving room for the displacement and discharge of the chips or clippings.

The pointing is effected as follows: As the gripping-dies are engaging the nail-blank, the point is also engaged by the point-cutting dies, and on the advance the strain onthem, because of the toggle connection and the interposition of the blank, is naturally outward, which gives them'a shearing movement and at the same time a lateral cutting movement, so that the cut is made by movements accompanied with the least possible strain on the elements involved. The result isa clean, finless, and well-formed point on a cut nail.

E designates the sliding nipper, constructed to rest and operate in the groove in the bottom of the moving gripping-die. This sliding nipper consists of a steel bar fitted to the groove or seat in the moving gripping-die and abutting with its rear end against the metal of the die at the end of the groove. The

nipping or face end of the nipper corresponds in contour to the face end of the grippingdie, as shown, so that when the nail is gripped between the dies the faces of the nipper and die form a solid gripping and abutting face throughout. The nipper is given a limited vertical play in its seat in the die, and to effect this the stem or bar is made slightly narrower than the depth of the groove for the greater part of its length, (see Figs. 9 and 11,) the forward end being slightly deeper or broader than the 'rest of the stem, as seen at 23. As the nipper is advanced beyond the die it drops when it reaches the shoulder or depression 23*, and when it is returned it is IIG raised by being carried up by the shoulder coming in contact with the bed of the die. The object of this vertical reciprocation is that as the nail is carried down by the knife and the nipper is moved forward it is slid under the nail and held against the ejector in the beddie, when the lifting mechanism raises the nipper under the lip or shoulder of the bed-die, and thus insures the unobstructed forward movement of the moving die.

F designates the nail ejector or clearer, formed to rest and have a limited endwise movement in the groove in the gripping-bed device. This ejector consists of a steel bar fitted to the groove in the bed-die with its surface on a line with the bottom of the groove and the line of the lip on the die, as shown in the drawings. In its normal position this ejector stands on a line with the upper abutting surface of the bed-die and is pushed back by the nipper, a spring 24 is employed, arranged substantially as shown, and to limit the outward movement a recess 25 is cut across the under face of the ejector and a plate 26 secured in ways across the bottom of the die. The outward movement of the clearer throws the nail from the die.

To reciprocate the sliding nippers and raise them for the purpose of carrying the nail under,

the lip of the bed-die the following-described mechanism is provided: In Fig. 13 of the drawings is illustrated the bed of a nail-machine and having the mechanism connected thereto. Referring thereto, G designates the machinebed, 27 the posts, and 28 the main shaft of the machine. On this shaft is the usual cam 29, against which the nipper-spring 30 bears. In

' this spring 30 is an eyebolt 31, in which the push-bar 32 of the nipper-bar is connected by means of a pin or lug 33, the end of which projects below its bearing. The free end of the push-bar 32 is extended and rests on the bed of the machine alongside of the knifebed, as shown at 34C. The nipper-bar 35 is loosely supported at its end in a bearing 36 and has its inner end connected to the sliding nipper by any proper connection. I have shown the sliding nipper With a lug 37 to engage the fork 37 x of the nipper-bar. The push-bar is connected to the nipper-bar by a notch 38, in which the latter sits.

On the post of the machine adjacent to the nipper-spring are keepers 39 4.0, in which a post 41 is arranged to have vertical movement. This post 41 is formed with an arm 42, which bears on a cam 43 on the shaft 28 to lift the post, and is also provided with an inwardly-projecting arm 44, which engages the projecting end of the lug 33 of the pushbar 32, as shown, so that when the vertical post 41 is raised the push-bar is tilted, the nipper-bar thereby raised, and the nail-blank carried under the lip of the back piece.

Having thus described my invention, and the operation of the several elements having been specified in the premises of their description, I now proceed to particularly point out and distinctly claim the parts, improvements, and combinations.

I claim as my invention as follows:

1. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination of a stationary bed-gripping die, a moving gripping-die formed with pointcutting die-seats in their sides, point-cutting dies arranged in said seats, having their abutting surfaces formed with a separable interlocking knuckle-joint, and means for imparting reciprocating lateral movements to the pointcutting dies, substantially as described.

2. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination of gripping-dies formed with oppositelyprojecting lips arranged at difierent planes of elevation to form a nail holding and gripping space, point-cutting dies having a lateral reciprocating movement, and means for adjusting the point-cutting dies lengthwise, substantially as described.

3. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination of point-cutting dies having duplicate cutting-faces and formed with vertically-directed and oppositely-arranged depression and ridge, whereby when the dies are in contact a toggle-joint is formed, substantially as described.

4. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination of a moving and a bed -gripping die formed with oppositely-projecting lips on their gripping-faces, said lips being arranged at different planes of elevation, and pointcutting die-seats in their side edges and central grooves in their bottom faces, point-cutting dies in the said die-seats, having lateral movement therein, a sliding reciprocating nipper in the bottom groove of the moving gripping-die, and a spring-actuated nail-ejector in the groove of the bed-gripping die, substantially as described.

5. The sliding nipperherein described, consisting of abar of steel having a nipper-face end and having the under surface of the bar formed slightly inclined and terminating in a shoulder near the front end, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination of a bed-gripping die having a groove in its bottom face, a nail-ejector in the groove of the die, a spring to throw the ejector outward, and a retaining-piece to hold the ejector and limit its outward movement, substantially as described.

7. In a nail-cutting machine, the combination, with the nipper-bar, the nipper-spring, and the sliding nipper, of the push-bar 32 and the vertically-reciprocating lifting-post 41, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with the nipper push bar of a nail-machine, of a nipper-bar 32, loosely supported at its outer end in a bearing, whereby the nipper-bar is given both horizontal and vertical reciprocations, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto set my hand in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

CHARLES E. HOUGI-ITON.

Attest:

A. G. HEYLMUN, REUBEN J oHNsoN. 

